Forum to debate Sun Coast rental crisis

Possible solutions to the current rental crisis on the Sunshine Coast will be discussed tonight at a public meeting in Coolum.

A Residential Tenancies Authority study has found rents on the Sunshine Coast have increased by more than 20 per cent in the past two years and census data from 2006 shows that in Golden Beach, Noosaville and Caloundra west, rent exceeds 30 per cent of household income.

Coolum Social Justice Group chairman Chris Harmon says the working poor are being forced out of the region by a huge increase in rents and a public housing shortage.

Mr Harmon is calling for more public housing to stop people from leaving.

"In a society like the Sunshine Coast, what's happening, and I've got anecdotal evidence to say that this is happening, I haven't seen survey results on this, but families are actually moving away from the area because they can't afford the rent," he said.

"Society on the coast can't afford this, because these people that are moving from the area into cheaper rental housing elsewhere, these are the people we're relying on as workers."

Tonight's meeting is being held at the St Peters Church in Coolum at 7:00pm AEST.